Brevo vs Mailchimp: Multi-Channel vs Brand Recognition

Overview

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) offers multi-channel marketing at lower prices. Mailchimp is the most recognized email marketing brand. Both serve general marketing needs, but with different approaches.

The quick answer: Brevo offers better value for multi-channel marketing. Mailchimp makes sense if you need its specific integrations. Neither is ideal for SaaS startups.

Key Differences

Pricing Model

Brevo prices based on emails sent, not contacts. This benefits startups with large lists but infrequent sends. You only pay for what you send.

Mailchimp prices based on contacts. If you have many contacts but send rarely, you are paying for dormant subscribers.

Multi-Channel Features

Brevo includes SMS, WhatsApp, chat, and CRM in one platform. For startups wanting multi-channel marketing without multiple tools, this consolidation has value.

Mailchimp focuses primarily on email. SMS requires an add-on. No live chat feature. You would need additional tools for multi-channel.

Transactional Email

Brevo includes transactional email in the same platform. Password resets and marketing campaigns in one place.

Mailchimp requires Mandrill, a separate product with separate pricing, for transactional email.

Pros and Cons

Who Should Choose What

Choose Brevo if:

• You need SMS and chat alongside email
• You want one platform for everything
• You have many contacts but send infrequently
• Budget is a primary concern
• You need transactional email included

Choose Mailchimp if:

• You need specific integrations
• Brand recognition matters
• You are already in the Mailchimp ecosystem
• Email-only marketing is sufficient

Consider Sequenzy for SaaS

Neither Brevo nor Mailchimp has native billing integration for SaaS startups. If you use Stripe, Polar, Creem, or Dodo, Sequenzy offers what both lack: automatic billing data sync, revenue attribution, and SaaS-specific segmentation.

The Bottom Line

Brevo offers better value for multi-channel marketing. The per-email pricing and included features make it more cost-effective for many startups.

Mailchimp remains useful for its integration ecosystem. But for most startups, Brevo or Mailerlite offer better value. For SaaS specifically, Sequenzy is the better choice.